American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Announces Support of Bone Science with $1 Million in Research Grants

Date: August 21, 2013

New Grant Program Launched as a Result of Challenging Funding Climate Worldwide

WASHINGTON, DC – The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) today announced that it will pledge one million dollars to fund critical research for its members through the newly established Grants in Aid Program (GAP). The program is in response to flat lined research budgets and the difficult funding climate worldwide that has reduced or eliminated funding for bone and mineral research. This funding challenge, partially the result of the United States cuts to many government agencies through sequestration, has already slowed the pace of discovering cures and treatments for serious conditions like osteoporosis that affects 10 million Americans and 250 million worldwide, as well as rare bone diseases.

The GAP program will offer $50,000 USD grants each to 20 ASBMR members who have submitted a peer-reviewed grant application within the last 15 months to a major funding sponsor, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other major funder outside the United States, but because of fiscal constraints was not funded.

“We’re missing out on the next breakthrough in bone science and treatments because these cuts are halting progress,” said Lynda Bonewald, PhD, president of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. “These are challenging times for scientists. With dramatic cuts to the NIH budget in the United States and decreased funding for research internationally, outstanding research is not being funded and the future of bone and mineral science is literally threatened.”

The grants will allow the award recipients to continue their research and strengthen their proposals to obtain future funding. The GAP program is open to U.S. and international ASBMR members. International members living outside the United States are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted beginning September 23, 2013, with a deadline of November 4, 2013, and additional application dates in 2014 will be announced.

“I believe that it is our responsibility as a scientific society to do all that we can to support outstanding researchers in our field. This investment by the ASBMR is a small contribution, but we must try to fill the gap to help our members survive this unprecedented funding crisis,” Bonewald said.

The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) is the leading professional, scientific and medical society established to bring together clinical and experimental scientists involved in the study of bone and mineral metabolism. ASBMR encourages and promotes the study of this expanding field through annual scientific meetings, an official journal (Journal of Bone and Mineral Research), the Primer on the Metabolic Bone Diseases and Disorders of Mineral Metabolism, advocacy and interaction with government agencies and related societies. To learn more about upcoming meetings and publications, please visit www.asbmr.org.